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Rockies lose Roenicke, three others, on waiver wire

Rockies lose Roenicke, three others, on waiver wire

10/1/12: Josh Roenicke gets strike three swinging from Gerardo Parra for the final out in a 13-inning marathon to earn his first save

By Thomas Harding
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MLB.com |

DENVER -- The Rockies' need to reinstate players who finished this past season on the 60-day disabled list cost them several other players on Friday. One was right-handed relief pitcher Josh Roenicke, who was claimed off waivers by the Twins after having a career season in 2012.

The Rockies had to put first baseman Todd Helton and right-handed pitchers Juan Nicasio and Christian Friedrich back on the roster Friday. Players on the 60-day DL do not count against the 40-man Major league limit, but those exemptions expired Friday.

In addition to Roenicke, who went 4-2 with a 3.25 ERA and threw 88 2/3 innings to lead all Major League relievers, the Rockies also lost infielder Tommy Field, who, like Roenicke, was claimed by the Twins; right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso, claimed by the Royals; and right-handed reliever Zach Putnam, claimed by the Cubs.

Additionally, the club outrighted right-handed pitcher Carlos Torres off the Major League roster, making him a free agent.

The club did add a pitcher to the Major League roster -- right-handed reliever Josh Sullivan, 28. A fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2005, Sullivan, 28, went 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA and 17 saves at Double-A Tulsa, where he led the team with 60 appearances in 2012.

The moves leave the Rockies with 37 on the Major League roster, which gives them three spots to play with going into the offseason.

Roenicke, 30, was the most significant of the losses. He made 63 appearances, with 54 strikeouts against 43 walks. He also forced 12 double-play grounders, which tied him for second most among Major League relievers.

Moscoso, 28, obtained along with lefty Josh Outman from the Athletics for outfielder Seth Smith last winter, was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs four times and went 3-2 with a 6.12 ERA in 23 games, including three starts, for the Rockies.

Putnam and Field, both 25, saw action in just two games with the Rockies.

Torres, 30, was called up four times and went 5-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 31 Major League relief appearances.